Passion and Perseverance: My Journey as a Social Entrepreneur in Africa

As an entrepreneur, how do you define passion? For me, it's the unwavering commitment to a cause greater than oneself, the relentless pursuit of a vision despite the obstacles, and the willingness to invest everything—time, money, and effort—into making a difference.

My journey began at 14, fueled by the values instilled by my family, where education was paramount. My parents, both accomplished doctors and humanitarians, set high academic standards. Their encouragement pushed me to strive for excellence, which led to my first entrepreneurial venture. With a reward of $400 from my father for academic success, I chose to buy a laptop instead of indulging in material pleasures. That decision was the cornerstone of my entrepreneurial journey, leading to the creation of a small business offering digital services in my community.

From this humble beginning, my business grew, landing contracts with organizations like CENI RDC and Médecins du Monde Belgique - Dokters van de Wereld Belgi? . This success enabled me to reinvest in my business and hire a team, transforming my small venture into a thriving enterprise.

However, my passion wasn't just for personal success. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I realized the critical importance of digital skills and technology. This epiphany led to the founding of DigitRise? Africa , an organization dedicated to empowering African youth with essential digital skills. Our mission is to bridge the digital divide and foster innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent.

Defining a Social Entrepreneur

Being a social entrepreneur means prioritizing community impact over personal profit. It’s about using business principles to address social challenges and create sustainable change. For the past two years, I have been self-funding my startup and relying on contributions from my dedicated team. Despite the financial challenges, my commitment to our mission has never wavered.

As a social entrepreneur in Africa, accessing funding and support is incredibly challenging. Yet, my dedication, resilience, and passion drive me forward. I am inspired daily by my mentor and role model, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R , whose journey continues to motivate me to push boundaries and strive for excellence.

Our Achievements

Over the past two years, DigitRise Africa has made significant strides:

• Empowered over 5,000 young Africans with digital skills through our training programs.
• Launched the Africa Digital International Academy - ADIA , offering accredited courses in various tech fields.
• Organized the Africa Women Digital Week, providing a platform for over 2,000 women to enhance their digital capabilities.
• Connected 56 young talents with different companies for career development.
• Empowered 200 young people in Kalemie and Moba over the past two months, continuing our efforts despite the challenging circumstances caused by flooding.

These numbers might seem small, but for a small team like ours and a self-funding startup, they are meaningful and promise a bigger impact once we secure funding and potential investors.

The Crisis in Kalemie

In recent months, a tragedy has struck Kalemie, in the Tanganyika province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Over 35,000 students have had their school year disrupted by massive flooding. Several dozen schools have been submerged by the devastating waves of Lake Tanganyika, leaving students and teachers helpless in the face of this unprecedented natural disaster.

We stand together with these young generations affected by the crisis caused by Lake Tanganyika, where over 35,000 students are out of school. Our dedication to empowering these youth remains steadfast.

The Power of Support

Imagine what your support can bring to our community. With additional funding and resources, we could:

• Expand our training programs to reach 10,000 more young Africans within the next year.
• Provide scholarships and resources to underprivileged youth, enabling them to pursue careers in technology.
• Develop innovative solutions to address local challenges, fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and resilience.
• Build and equip digital learning centres in remote areas, ensuring access to education for all.
• Strengthen partnerships with local and international NGOs to amplify our impact and reach.
• Create job opportunities for young people by nurturing their entrepreneurial skills and connecting them with potential employers.

We are contributing to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 4: Quality Education - By providing digital skills training and educational resources.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality - Through initiatives Africa Women Digital Week and AFROWOMEN? in Digital .
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth - By creating job opportunities through our initiative Rise Talents? and fostering entrepreneurship.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure - By developing digital infrastructure and promoting innovation.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - By empowering underprivileged youth with essential skills and opportunities.

My passion for the community drives everything I do. If my goal were merely to make money, I could have pursued a business that guaranteed daily profits. But my dream is to see my name among the leaders of innovation and community empowerment, making a tangible difference in people's lives.

A Call for Support

We need your support to continue our mission. Together, we can empower more young Africans and create a brighter future for our continent. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Let’s build a future where every African youth has the opportunity to succeed.

#Entrepreneurship #SocialImpact #YouthEmpowerment #Africa #DigitRiseAfrica #TonyElumelu #DigitalSkills #Innovation

The Tony Elumelu Foundation 联合国开发计划署 Mastercard Foundation Google for Startups 微软 African Leadership Academy IFC - International Finance Corporation 世界银行 World Bank Group Youth Summit Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation Ford Foundation Ashoka YALDA US 联合国儿童基金会 USAID UNICEF en République Démocratique du Congo USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo 英国文化协会 African Union WOMEN IN TECH ? Global MIT Solve Echoing Green Skoll Foundation Village Capital Techstars DivInc AfricInvest Group Digital Opportunity Trust One Young World Plan International Seedstars Mandela Washington Fellowship YALI Network YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa TotalEnergies 德国国际合作机构